THE MEAT TRUST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10291, 28 May 1919, Page 5

THE MEAT TRUST

“LIKE PEPPER’S GHOST”

PRODUCERS EXPRESS FEAR OF AMERICAN COMBINES.

Once again fanners discussed the -Meat Trust when tho Wellington Farmers' Union sat in conference yesterday. Mr T. Benton, of Featherston, introduced the discussion by moving that the Government should be requested to take further steps to prevent the Meat Trust operating in this Dominion.

Mr Hugh Morison (Mastertoni seconded the motion.Alucb of what has been said against the trust at previous conferences was repeated. Among the speakers was Mr G. C. Jackson, of Mastertoh, who predicted that they would soon be under the heel of tho trust unless drastic steps were taken. They would find themselves in the same position as the American producers, and all classes of American producers were simply at the mercy ox the big combines. Mr G. L. Marshall, of Marten,- piesident of the conference, said that the profits and the wealth of the trusts were so great that the cost of .acquiring the New Zealand business would be a small matter to them. So_.they must take tho most drastic measures both here and on the other side of the world. Some precautions had been taken here, but it was unfortunate that the Minister had a certain power of revocation. The Minister should have some guide other than his own judgment. Mr H. A. Kevins (Tenui) said that if the trust got its clutches on New Zealand the value of land would fall. Mr J. Smith (Taihape) thought that the Meat Trust was like Tapper’s Ghost —it was hard to locate. The cure for the trouble was State ownership 'and control. With the mover’s - consent the motion was altered to read as follows, and in this new form it was carried: —“That the Government be asked to take all possible further steps to prevent the Meat Trust operating in the Dominion and in the distribution in Great Britain.” On the motion of Mr C. Held, Carterton, it was resolved: —“That the Government; be requested to publish the names of the representatives of. the Meat Trust, also the ■ names under which the Meat Trust is operating in this Dominion.” . . It was als agreed:—“That, with a view to preventing tho agents of the Meat Trust operator- in dairy produce in this Dominion, tile conference urges the National Dairy Association to adtheir produce to the Home markets their produce to the Home markets and to arrange for. their own ineans of distribution there., . A V,